Provectus receives notice of allowance for acne product

Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its patent application covering novel acne medications, including the Company's invisible, solid acne treatment, Pure-Stick, which is an over- the-counter (OTC) product.

This Allowance, which is the first for Provectus OTC products, is an important step in the Company's program to broaden and further extend its existing intellectual property portfolio.

The pending patent covers certain formulations and medical uses of topical cosmetic and medicinal compositions for treatment of facial acne. Acne is caused by skin conditions that make bacteria normally present on the skin proliferate and cause inflammation. A key trigger for this unchecked growth is excess oil on the skin. Provectus' unique formulations address a root cause of acne using a novel approach that combines agents to modify the skin with a powerful antibacterial agent to inhibit bacterial growth that can lead to acne.

Provectus CEO Craig Dees, Ph.D commented: "We believe that the uniqueness of our acne product could make it a strong contender in a multibillion dollar market. We continue to validate our strength in practical innovation with unique products such as this. Provectus is now expected to have 17 issued U.S. patents and remains confident in its 23 U.S. patent applications."

In addition to Pure-Stick, Provectus OTC products address important areas of skin care, and include Pure-ific(TM), a long lasting anti-infectious agent spray for hands or surfaces. The Company is seeking to spin-out, license or sell its OTC assets in key markets worldwide, noted Dees.